DuPage County softball notes: Wheaton North duo rewriting school record books
Time to get out the eraser.
Some significant milestones were achieved in Wheaton North’s recent 6-2 win over St. Charles North where Reagan Crosthwaite hit a pair of 2-run homers to break the program career home run mark and Erin Metz tied the Wheaton North career wins record. Monica Kading also hit a 2-run shot to help the Falcons to victory.
Additionally, Metz hit 2 home runs, including a game-winning 3-run homer against Oak Park-River Forest. Makayla Hammer also homered and Metz struck out eight to earn the win for the Falcons (11-2, 1-0 DuKane). Metz also fanned eight against St. Charles East. Makayla Grantz had 3 hits against St. Charles East.
Addison Trail update: The Blazers (5-7, 1-2 during recent trip to Springfield) are led offensively by Marisa Lloveras (.495), Erin Parker (.452) and Guiliana Clementi (.372, 3 home runs).
Downers Grove South: The Mustangs (6-3, 1-0 West Suburban Gold) hung 50 runs on opponents during a recent 3-game stretch. Ella Cushing has 7 home runs and 24 RBI, while Grace Taylor and Ella Kardatzke each are hitting .551 with 16 hits.
Fenton update: The Bison (2-2 Upstate Eight) moved to 6-5 after wins against Elgin, East Aurora and Round Lake last week. Elizabeth Delgado (.440 batting, .632 on-base, 11 hits), Kayla Valadez (11 hits, 16 runs, 10 stolen bases) and freshman Emma Siekierski (13 RBI, first career homer against Elgin) are tops offensively, while junior Kendall Mitchell (4 wins, 1.14 ERA) and Sophia Hollis (24 strikeouts) lead the way in the circle.
Glenbard East update: The Rams (7-3, 3-1 Upstate Eight) have been bolstered by leadoff hitter Lilly Carver and her .571 batting average (19 runs, 11 RBI, 15 stolen bases), as well as Missy Saldana (.548 batting, 16 RBI) and Sophia Opila (.412 batting, 8 steals, 7 RBI). Freshman pitcher Claire Bolda fanned 28 batters in her last 16 innings with wins against Glenbard South and Batavia. East is hitting .365 as a team (.467 team on-base percentage).
Glenbard North update: The Panthers (4-5, 1-0 DuKane) are led by Tru Medina (.500 batting, 3 homers, 16 RBI), Lauren Kozlovsky (.513, 10 RBI), Ava Kozlovsky (.357, 10 RBI) and Gia Whelan (.363, 14 RBI). Kozlovsky and Whelan are both sophomores. Sophomore pitcher Avery Miller lost 1-0 in 8 innings to St. Charles East, throwing a great game, coach Josh Sanew mentioned. She then shut out Wheaton Warrenville South, “in an even better performance,” he added.
Glenbard South update: Brooke Lange (.367, 5 RBI) and freshman Evangeline Dupuis (.350 batting, .606 on-base, 10 runs, 9 walks, 6 RBI) continue to have the hot hand offensively for the Raiders (3-7, 2-1 Upstate Eight). “Evangeline is a hard-nosed athlete not afraid to put in hard work and it shows as a freshman on varsity,” coach Julie Fonda said. “Brooke is starting to put it together in the circle as a pitcher. She has worked very hard to perfect her craft.”
Hinsdale Central update: Seniors Naomi Cook, Annie Mayer and Maisie McDaniel are guiding Central’s younger players on “what it takes to be a gamer on the varsity level,” coach Brittany Zust said.
IC Catholic Prep update: The Knights were 12-1 overall and 5-1 in the Girls Catholic Athletic White, thanks in part to a couple of late come-from-behind wins against Hinsdale South and St. Ignatius. Analisa Raffaelli is hitting .630 with 5 home runs, 29 hits, 23 runs scored and 27 stolen bases, while AJ Dwyer leads the team in RBI (25) and doubles (6) and Ariani Zito has a team-leading 2.62 ERA. Freshman Lexi Russ is hitting .500 while batting fourth. Freshman catcher Kelly Cahill is hitting .439 with 3 doubles and coach Frank Reaber lauded her efforts behind the plate. Zito, also a freshman, plays second base when not pitching and has been excelling with her slap hitting, Reaber noted.
Lake Park update: Elite contributions from across the diamond are responsible for the Lancers starting 11-0 overall and 2-0 in DuKane Conference play. Alex Kiefer (.568 batting, 2 doubles, 3 homers), Ava Arenz (.538, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers) and Kylie Pytlak (.484, 2 triples, 4 homers) lead the way at the plate, while Ari O’Connell is showing more power at the plate and Reese Nolbertowicz is flashing the leather in center field, coach Lynsey Gunnells noted. Gaetano Calo (5-0, 1.40 ERA) and Gianna Furlano (5-0, 2.40 ERA) are unbeaten in the circle.
Montini update: The Broncos have logged 17 games (6-11, 1-2 GCAC Red) with Erin Grimsley (.483, 28 hits, 20 runs), Cedona Barrett (.444, 24 hits, 20 RBI) and Kat Filkowski (.420, 21 hits, 17 runs) having 20 or more hits.
Metea Valley update: The Mustangs (6-6, 3-0 DuPage Valley) won four of five games last week, including victories against Neuqua Valley and Glenbard North. Genevieve Gonzales is hitting .571 with 24 hits, 8 doubles, 11 runs scored and 18 RBI, and was the winning pitcher against Glenbard North. Charlie Benesh is 3-0 in DVC games with a 1.90 ERA and 5-2 overall with a 2.92 ERA and an average of 1 K per inning. Reese Valha is hitting .378 with 17 hits, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers, 15 runs scored and 14 RBI.
Naperville North update: Olivia Hebron leads the Huskies in all offensive categories except doubles, sitting at .405 (batting), .458 (on-base) and 1.125 (on-base plus slug) with 11 RBI and 14 RBI. Last week, Gabi Chmiel hit .583 with 3 doubles, a triple and 5 RBI, while Hebron hit .500 with 8 hits and 6 RBI from the leadoff spot. The Huskies started the week 4-10 (1-2 DuPage Valley).
Neuqua Valley update: Key contributors for the Wildcats (4-8, 2-2 DVC) include Madysen Wagner (.400, average, 12 hits, 1 homer, 6 RBI), Nadia Casanova (.385, 6 walks), Krista Waldusky (.368, 1 homer, 11 RBI), sophomore Nalia Clifford (.324, 11 runs, .958 fielding at SS and 3B) and freshman Ashley Pape (.343, .425 on-base, 4 doubles, .967 fielding and strong pitching debut against Chicago Marist). Neuqua belted 17 hits and 3 homers against Lockport. Krista Waldusky has been clutch for coach Dani Asquini's team, registering two bottom-of-the-seventh game-winning hits against Naperville Central and Lockport.
Timothy Christian update: Lauren Kottke (.533 batting), Sophia Mook (.500) and Chloe Wetterquist (.350) are offensive stars for the Trojans, who won recent Chicagoland Christian games against Marian Central and Chicago Christian. Mook hit 3 home runs during a recent 2-game stretch.
Waubonsie Valley update: Samantha Wiertelak pitched 8 innings in a 5-4 win against Oswego East and pitched a 7-inning shutout against DeKalb for the Warriors (5-9, 1-2 DuPage Valley). Aislee Morgan hit a game-winning double against Oswego East. Hannah Laub (.519, 27 hits, 10 doubles, 2 triples, 6 homers, 16 RBI), Gia Cobert (.426, 20 hits, 5 doubles, 9 RBI) and Morgan (.388, 19 hits, 5 doubles, 18 RBI) hit for power, play small ball, are smart on the base paths and score, coach Valerie Wood noted.
West Chicago update: Look out for the West Chicago softball team. Coach Mary Kate Dieter’s team started the week 6-0 and 3-0 in Upstate Eight Conference play. The Wildcats downed Wheaton Warrenville South 1-0 recently — a team that had knocked WeGo out of the state playoffs in recent years (1-0 in sectional last year and 6-2 in regional in 2022).
Big reasons for the Wildcats’ success include allowing only 3 runs in those first 6 games and getting big production at the plate from the likes of sophomore Sophia Ptak (.650 batting average, 3 home runs in 1 game, 12 runs scored) and junior Jasmyn Trigueros (.611, 8 RBI). Carly Clemens has 3 doubles and 2 triples in her first 18 at-bats, while Cora Garling has a .538 on-base percentage thanks to 5 crucial walks in 13 plate appearances, Dieter said.
In the circle, Scout Gallagher struck out 12 against Larkin, while Trigueros fanned a dozen against WW South. Gallagher and Ptak also were lauded by Dieter for their work behind the plate.
Westmont update: Reagan Kelly leads the way for the Sentinels (2-5, 0-1 Metro Suburban). She’s hitting .412 (.824 slug, 1.297 OPS) with 8 runs scored and 7 RBI, and has 2 wins and 22 strikeouts in the circle. Grace Détente has 1 home run, 7 RBI, a .615 slugging percentage and a 1.089 OPS. Alice O’Connor and Desaree Shobutte each has scored 8 runs.
Wheaton Warrenville South update: The Tigers (1-0 DuKane) came into the week having won nine of their first 11 games. Abby Mease already has 23 hits (17 runs scored) to go with a .605 batting average and .651 on-base percentage, plus she’s 8-for-9 in steals. Maddie Pool is hitting .436 (14 RBI, 3 doubles, 2 homers), while Parker Leonard is batting .421 with 7 doubles and 8 RBI, and has struck out only 3 times in 36 at-bats. Brooke Streubing is hitting .417 with 13 RBI, 3 homers and a .500 on-base percentage. Those four represent the first 4 hitters in the Tigers lineup (.605, .436, .421 and .417). Pool is 6-2 with a 0.94 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 52 innings.
Willowbrook update: Coach Nick Hildreth’s Warriors team started the week 7-4, which includes a key come-from-behind win against Glenbard West and a win against Glenbard South in a well-presented Friday night game played under the lights and on the turf in the Willowbrook football stadium.
Sonia Ruchala (.660 batting average, 2 homers, 15 RBI), freshman Aleena McNamara (.445), sophomore Marli Smrz (15 RBI) and freshman Liz Pettinger (16 runs scored) have led the way offensively, while senior pitcher Karman Rowe is 4-3 in the circle with 54 strikeouts and junior Isabel Bates is 3-1 with 30 strikeouts, a 1.50 ERA and 2 no-hitters to her credit this season.
“It’s a total group effort right now,” said Hildreth, whose team starts 2 freshmen and 3 sophomores. “Different players are stepping up on different days.”
York update: The York junior pitching duo of Taylor McMillen (17 strikeouts, 4 walks, 21 2/3 innings, 0.65 ERA) and Avery Kanouse (33 strikeouts, 18 1/3 innings, 1.91 ERA) have starred, while Kanouse (.435 batting, 1 homer), sophomore shortstop Lilly Burda (.423, 1 homer, 1.000 fielding percentage), freshman Sara Steinecker (.455, 1 homer) and sophomore third baseman Alex Eletr-Garofalo (.308 batting, 1 homer) have been notable at the plate and in the field for the Dukes (6-5, 1-0 West Suburban Silver).